And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. Acts 16:9
During a speech to the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C, U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral William D. Lee spoke of an encounter with a young man in his early 20s recovering from a failed suicide attempt, struggling with hopelessness. Faced with Obama-era rules that prohibit sharing religious faith with others in the military, the admiral said he violated the rule that said he was to send the young man to a chaplain, and obeyed his heart that said to give the man a Bible. Good for Admiral Lee! Perhaps he understood something of what God was teaching the missionary team in our text, that sharing the Gospel message is the best way to help people.
Although we dream several times during the night, most of those dreams don’t survive long enough in our memories for us to recall them in the morning. Those that do are usually gone by mid-morning, and those that we can remember after a day are extremely rare. And yet, we have recorded here a dream that has persisted for almost two thousand years! It was memorable because it was a plea for help, and it was significant because it was the first time the Gospel was to be taken into Europe. The missionary team was in Troas and had just experienced the closing of doors to their efforts in that area. And now, God is opening another door, and has clearly indicated that Macedonia needs to hear the Gospel. The appeal – come over into Macedonia and help us – appears urgent. At this point, the team knows little about the condition of things in Macedonia. But they know two things. Firstly, they know that Macedonia needs help. Secondly, they know that the best help they can provide is to hurry there with the Gospel. Those two things are true about those who God has called us to testify before.
People in the world around us are sick and hopeless and horribly confused. In their desperate scramble to find answers and purpose, they are flinging themselves in destructive and unproductive directions such as drugs and alcohol, gang participation, gross immorality of all kinds, and gambling. Like the man of Macedonia, they are crying out for help, and nobody is listening. There is only one remedy for their hopelessness, and that is Jesus Christ. They are not going to get the remedy they need from religion and good works, or in their destructive behaviour. No, they need the Gospel. And who will take them the Gospel? Who will place in their hands the Word of God and good Gospel literature? Who will speak to them about the remedy for their sinful ruin?
Have we heard the man of Macedonia call for help? If so, respond. If not, listen again. -Jim MacIntosh